CINCINNATI (WKRC) – The Cincinnati Reds have outrighted infielder Santiago Espinal to Triple-A Louisville after he cleared waivers, the team announced Friday. It is expected Espinal will now become a free agent.
The 29-year-old was an All-Star with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2022 but has struggled to replicate that success in recent seasons. Over the past three years, Espinal has hit .245 with a .298 on-base percentage and a .325 slugging percentage. In 2025, he batted .243/.292/.282 across 328 plate appearances.
Known for his defensive versatility and ability to handle multiple infield positions, Espinal provided limited offensive production this season. He posted a -1.4 WAR, the lowest mark on the Reds’ roster, and was one of only three players in the majors with at least 300 at-bats who failed to hit a home run. Yet manager Terry Francona played him in 114 games with 67 starts.
Espinal joined Cincinnati before the 2024 season after spending parts of five years with Toronto.